The wisdom within menstruation

As a menstrual educator, the message of my work can be distilled down to this: we bleed and it matters. It really is that simple. And yet, this statement may feel unfamiliar, unusual or challenging to many. This makes sense, as we are not generally taught that menstruation holds any relevance beyond its biological function. More commonly, our periods are known as “the curse” or an unfortunate outcome of an existence with female anatomy. This is a consequence of deep-rooted and cross-cultural menstrual taboos that have formed layers of silence, shame and disconnection around our menstruating and cyclical bodies.

It is through the process of menstruation that every human being on this planet is alive. It is our unifying red thread of connection. In some traditional earth-based cultures, menstruation was